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Steps toward achieving gender equality in the Middle East have seen numerous studies on attitudes, behaviors, legislation and the impact of discrimination and violence on women. The results of a survey launched this week, however, took a different angle to the issue by focusing on men and masculinity – the first study to do so in the Middle East. U.N. Women, along with research institute Connecting Research to Development and local NGO Resource Centre for Gender Equality (ABAAD), hosted an event at the Movenpick hotel Thursday to present the findings of the Lebanese iteration of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey, as well as premiere the EU-funded documentary "Al Mafroud" on the effects of the Syrian war on gender roles.

In Lebanon, Connecting Research to Development spoke with 1,050 men and 1,136 women from 18 to 59 years old, a quarter of which were Syrians living in Lebanon.

This is pertinent information in a country that has low participation of women in public leadership – only four out of 128 seats in the Parliament are held by women – despite standing out in the region for more positive perceptions of gender equality.

Naciri agreed with Barker, emphasizing that attaining a state of gender equality in the region is not the work of years, but decades.